THE WESTWARD EXPANSIONS IMPACT ON THE NATIVE AMERICANS
Before the Westward Expansion the Native Americans had a lifestyle of their own primarily in the west. Native Americans had absolutely no intention of changing their lifestyle or coming into contact other than other Native Americans tribes. When the Westward Expansion began the Natives were faced with many hardships.
While Americans were emigrating westward on the Oregon trail, any animal they saw that could be a possible food source was taken advantage of. One of those animals was bison. To the Native Americans, that was their major food and clothing source for the Natives living on the Great Plains.
When expanding westward, Americans were setting out in hope of starting a better life, but there was one problem, the Native Americans had already been living there. Therefore the US government forced Native American tribes to live in areas called Indian Reservations that were not the best land. In exchange for living on the reservation, the native american tribes were often paid money called an annuity. The annuities were not very much money, and not to mention the government didn’t always pay on time. In 1862, the Dakota Sioux tribe in Minnesota wasn't paid their annuity on time. Fed up enough, the angry people took revenge against traders who wouldn't give them food on credit, US troops, and in some cases innocent civilians Hundreds were killed.
Although the Westward had a lot of negative impacts on the Native Americans it had a few positives. Technological advancements, population expansion, cultural expansion and shared civilized unity were all things that the Native Americans had gained from the Westward Expansion.
While Americans were emigrating westward on the Oregon trail, any animal they saw that could be a possible food source was taken advantage of. One of those animals was bison. To the Native Americans, that was their major food and clothing source for the Natives living on the Great Plains.
When expanding westward, Americans were setting out in hope of starting a better life, but there was one problem, the Native Americans had already been living there. Therefore the US government forced Native American tribes to live in areas called Indian Reservations that were not the best land. In exchange for living on the reservation, the native american tribes were often paid money called an annuity. The annuities were not very much money, and not to mention the government didn’t always pay on time. In 1862, the Dakota Sioux tribe in Minnesota wasn't paid their annuity on time. Fed up enough, the angry people took revenge against traders who wouldn't give them food on credit, US troops, and in some cases innocent civilians Hundreds were killed.
Although the Westward had a lot of negative impacts on the Native Americans it had a few positives. Technological advancements, population expansion, cultural expansion and shared civilized unity were all things that the Native Americans had gained from the Westward Expansion.